The Eu Has Given It's First Response..

[Togo]

To our letter of intent. Oh dear they immediately go into hard ball mode. Or is this a loose cannon just firing off in a fit of pique?

http://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/news/first-eu-response-to-article-50-takes-tough-line-on-transitional-deal/ar-BBz0yZz?li=AAmiR2Z&ocid=spartanntp

[woofgang]

Hands up all those who are at all surprised?

[anneasquith]

Sitting on my hands .

[cassa333]

Not me. And I am a Brexiters.

As long as TM and our government don't roll over and capitulate to either Brussels or the remoaners we will be better off out of the bullying club that is the EU.

What does need to happen is for the people throughout EU to be shown how they intend to treat their member states to make them toe the line.

Jack boots at the ready.

[anneasquith]

Jack boots at the ready ....... Really ?

[jourdain2]

They were always going to begin hard-line. They want to scare us. Stand together and we'll be fine. I'm not scared.

[Baldric]

To be fair the EU is German led,
Just remember

"Two World Wars and One World Cup
Doo dah, Doo Dah!

[cassa333]

Yes. Jack boots to tread on the other 27 nations to toe the line and not dare to be so impertinent as to want to leave.

A heavy hand and a heavy boot.

[EDDIE51]

I think this passage from the links says it all
Addressing a press conference half an hour later, Tusk said: “There is no need to pretend that this is a happy day, neither in Brussels or in London. After all most Europeans, including almost half the British voters, wish that we would stay together not drift apart.”
This is NOT a Loose Cannon, Tusk is President of the European Council!
It is the European Council who will meet WITHOUT the UK being represented to decide the terms under which we can leave!

[joggerjayne]

So, that's it?

The timid brexiters have got what they wanted.

Too weak to stand and fight against Europe, they voted to run and hide. Run away, run away!

And so, little Britain runs away and hides from big bully Europe.

And, like a puppy, we are left begging for the scraps of the European trade deal.

Pleeease give us a trade deal. Don't be mean to us. Please be our best friends. Please let us keep the benefits we already have.

The brexiters voted for us to become a nation of fraidy cats, hoping that nasty Europe will be kind to us.

Well, guess what ... they won't!

[Baldric]

Oh Dear ^ !

[anneasquith]

Well well JJ I have misjudged you all these years ;-)

[naomi24]

Jayne, you misunderstand. The people who want that are the reluctant who are charged with overseeing our exit but wanted to 'Remain'. They're terrified of letting go of the apron strings. Here's one 'Out' voter who doesn't want any of it. Out is out. No ifs or buts!

[Jackdaw33]

A typical Brighton and Hove response from JJ.

[naomi24]

Jayne is a very nice lady - but she has the wrong end of the stick on this one. Those who voted 'Out' want 'Out'. It's the rest who want to cling to as much as they can of 'In' - and some of 'the rest' are doing the negotiating.

[Baldric]

They can't even get the i360 to work JD!

[Zacs-Master]

JJ is fond of a wine or two too, one has to remember.

[New Judge]

"There is no need to pretend that this is a happy day, neither in Brussels or in London."

It is where I live. Last June 24th I was in my local Waitrose and bottles of bubbly were being trollied out the door in vast quantities. Coincidentally today I was in the same shop. Whilst the atmosphere was not quite as lively, a number of customers I spoke to intended to raise a glass at 12:30 or thereabouts.

"It is the European Council who will meet WITHOUT the UK being represented to decide the terms under which we can leave!"

You've been stating this for nine months as if it is outrageous and unexpected, Eddie. Firstly, you would not expect us to be present. We do not have to agree the proposals the EU will make to the UK whereas the other 27 do. But secondly, A50 says quite clearly:

"For the purposes of paragraphs 2 and 3, [which set out the mechanism for leaving] the member of the European Council or of the Council representing the withdrawing Member State shall not participate in the discussions of the European Council or Council or in decisions concerning it."

So it's no surprise.

The UK's starting position should be something like "We'll accept a relationship along the lines that the EU has with any normal country (e.g. USA, Japan, China). We'll also agree to match the payments such countries make to the EU for the privilege of trading with its businesses." That should do as our opening gambit.

I do hope the next two years turn out less tedious than the last nine months.

[Zacs-Master]

Tedious? It's been one of the most interesting times in politics ever.

[EDDIE51]

^^ I understand that NJ but does our PM ?
She has just this minute been on TV news saying '' When I am sitting at the negotiating table, I will be pushing hard for the best deal for the entire UK''

[Jackdaw33]

I must say I tend to agree with ZM. Watching all the squirming antics from the Remainers, to no avail.